An increasing number of states are offering tax breaks to game developers, but Savannah, Georgia is offering something extra - free office space for a year.
Non-profit group The Creative Coast Alliance and the Savannah Economic Development Authority have teamed up on the incentive program in order to attract game developers to the Georgia city.
The free space is located in the Game Development and Digital Media Center which is presently being constructed in an upscale, riverfront office building. Officials are also touting Savannah's lower cost of living as compared to other game development hubs, including San Francisco, Los Angeles, Austin and Montreal.
Game designer Brenda Brathwaite, who chairs the Interactive Design and Game Development department at the Savannah College of Art and Design, commented on the city's advantages:
Savannah has what game development companies need in talent, tech and quality of life. In
today's economy when so many developers are laid off and looking for that silver lining, the Savannah offer is incredibly welcome and offers developers a chance to start a studio on more stable footing.
On a related note, game developers may also qualify for Georgia state tax incentives of up to 30%.
Comments
Re: Savannah Woos Game Developers with Free Office Space
This is awesome news, I'm actually planning on going to SCAD in a couple years, so this is welcome news indeed if I ever looked into staying in Savannah.
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Re: Savannah Woos Game Developers with Free Office Space
i'd take up that deal if i was in a position to start something up... i mean when you starting something up you want to cut as much costs as possible. Not to mention that you would be in good position to snag SCAD graduates, and interns if you get to the position where you can take interns and coops... i once went down to that city to take a look at SCAD, i was only there for a couple of days but it did seem like a nice place; probably would have went there if they had offered more in terms of scholarships and loans... though to be fair, in hindsight that would have been a bad idea; one of my old professors used to teach down there and said the animation program there wasn't as strong as other schools... not sure about the other programs though
Re: Savannah Woos Game Developers with Free Office Space
I hope they snag a few dev's. Thats less than an hour from where I go to school.
Re: Savannah Woos Game Developers with Free Office Space
Same, I live just barely north of the Georgia/SC border and I'm about an hour out from Savannah.
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I'm not under the affluence of incohol as some thinkle peep I am. I'm not half as thunk as you might drink. I fool so feelish I don't know who is me, and the drunker I stand here, the longer I get.
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I'm not under the affluence of incohol as some thinkle peep I am. I'm not half as thunk as you might drink. I fool so feelish I don't know who is me, and the drunker I stand here, the longer I get.
Re: Savannah Woos Game Developers with Free Office Space
This sounds like an awesome deal especially for new startups who are trying to cut costs. Most if not all console licenses require the development studio to have a physical office location. Most startups can't do that on limited budgets. This would really help.
E. Zachary Knight
Oklahoma City Chapter of the ECA
http://www.theeca.com/chapters_oklahoma
E. Zachary Knight
Divine Knight Gaming
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